Here is a puzzle I’ve been attempting to resolve for every week, however I’ve not made any actual progress. Some of the issues I’ve tried I’ll embrace as spoilers.

The puzzle is from a contest which has simply ended, however it will likely be a couple of months till options are launched and I believed perhaps the group right here may assist put my thoughts at relaxation by explaining the puzzle to me!

Best concept I’ve had

I wished to attempt to draw a path within the grid which spelt a phrase. I hoped to discover a path which lined the entire grid, however I could not discover something logical. The greatest I may do was to spell the phrase FRIEND by strolling alongside the next path after which utilizing the Polybius sq. to decode the message.

The path right here provides the numbers 21 . 42 . 24 . 15 . 33 . 14 . which decodes to FR(I/J)END. I like this resolution as the trail appears pretty logical and begins from the crimson two, however I’m not satisfied that is the reply.

Context for the puzzle

Last week, there was a cryptography olympiad NSU Crypto. There are two rounds, one which is for people and lasts at some point, after which a second spherical which lasts every week and might be performed in groups.

This drawback was drawback one part A for the person spherical, after which used once more for the second spherical for the groups competitors. You can obtain the unique PDF of the problem from the next hyperlink.

Similar questions

Seems like this puzzle has appeared as soon as earlier than, however was appropriately locked, because it was posted throughout the competitors… Similar query